Warmblooded

[goldenambition]

Who: Will, Clive and Joshua (Bird)
What: Hunting a biblically accurate deer to appease Winter
When: Some time before the god fight, just in case
Where: The Woods
Warnings: Animal death, gore, occultism

[Will would never consider himself a hunter- for all his adventures, he was always more a city boy than not. He COULD snare a coney or shoot down a bird for a meal. But full deer hunting was something he was not that experienced in.

But he had an ace, if what he was told on the journals was true. But that just made this all the more dangerous.

He was bundled head to toe in winter gear the sad-looking shopkeep had provided, his armor on under it and his bow unslung]

So 'pparently these deer are meat eaters, so I gotta package of roast steak here- [He pats a cloth bag on his hip. It has a bit too much give to be anything but wrapped raw meat. And if the brothers have a decent sense of smell they can likely smell it out right.] - so we can try to bait it out. This time'a year a fresh kill outta be tempting for all kinds of beasties.

You two still up for this?

Comments

[goldenambition]

[The beast eyes him warily... but starvation wins out over fears, and it chomps at the meat fast enough to risk fingers]

Hm... if you don't mind giving up some of the bells and whistles. It's kinda big to try and drag back, innit? Better... better to be fast and clean, yeah.

[he gets what you two are putting down]

[aneikonic]

[ Yeah, going to be careful not to lose his fingers here. He understands what his brother is saying. No use stressing the thing out by hauling it back. And he nods when Will picks up on it as well. ]

It's giving it's life. Let's do it kindly. What needs to be done?

[ He feeds the rest of the meat to the deer, letting it enjoy a little last meal. ]

[kingincognito]

[ Good, they both understand. With how things seem to work here, if they killed it while it was angry, it might just make another wraith-like being. Best to do things humanely. ]

So long as the bells and whistles aren't necessary to the sacrifice.

[ He glances over to the antlers. Surely something can be made of them, once everything is said and done. Perhaps the hide and bones, as well, provided those won't be consumed in the process. ]

cw: gore

[goldenambition]

I don' think they will. The author just has a certain flair for the dramatic. We'll have some words that need to be spoken. Prayers and pleas. Then the animal is killed- and the rite master puts a symbol on each of the folks there with the blood.

If we wanted to get especially flashy there's details here for eating the raw organs too... but I'd rather not get a parasite, ya ken?

[aneikonic]

[ Why is he not surprised about the being painted in blood thing. Wouldn't be the first time, he supposes. Clive sighs in acceptance and nods, catching his brothers glance towards the antlers and understanding it. They'll find something to do with the rest.

And yes, he makes a mild face - his brows furrow and his lips draw into a frown - at the idea of eating the organs. ]

Agreed. Passing on that.

[ He glances to Joshua, then back to Will. ]

We'll follow your lead, "Rite Master".

[kingincognito]

[ Well, that's... a little crude. Blood doesn't really bother him - there have been plenty of times when he's been splattered in various amounts of it - but eating raw organs feels like a bit much. He glances to Clive, and seeing that reaction makes him feel a little better. They're all in agreement. ]

Right. No particular need for flashy, so long as it works.

[ He folds his arms, looking back to Will. ]

What do we need to do first?

[goldenambition]

[Clive calling him the ritemaster makes his ears perk and his tail wag. Well, obviously it'll be him, he has the journal. But still, it tickles his fancy]

Well, if I'm doing the right then it'll be on you two to hold the beastie and... well, put it down.

[he gives a small empathetic look]

cw: killing a deer

[aneikonic]

[ And Clive nods. He figured as much.

And he is most certainly not going to let Joshua do it. ]

I'll do it.

[ First they need to bind the mouth, and since he's already there... he quickly grabs some of the netting and loops it quickly over the beasts muzzle before it can snap, his voice soft as he speaks to it. ]

I'm sorry. I know you don't understand, but it's for a good [ hopefully ] cause. And we will honor your sacrifice.

[ He draws the smaller weapon from his side, a sharp knife for moments like this. And quickly he winds up and then jams it into the deers head. A quick death. He hopes this counts and they didn't have to slit it's throat and bleed it out. ]

[kingincognito]

[ Oh. Well. There goes Clive. Hopefully order of operations isn't written in stone. Joshua glances at Will, lifting his eyebrows. ]

Will, what words need be spoken?

[goldenambition]

[Wow. Clive sure is effecient, ain't he? Clive doesn't hear Joshua talking at first then startles.]

Ah! Sorry, sorry. Here.

[He digs the journal from his bag and goes to kneel next to the corpse. A few flips and he starts to speak. Whispers of the cycle of life and death. Of the balances of nature. Of Man, both of that primordial cradle and apart from it- we pay for our long lives and knowledge with suffering. With bitter fruits. Much of his lackadaisical tone gone with the weight of his recitation

He takes a glove off, dipping his fingers in the oozing head wound, gesturing with a flick of the ears for both brothers to come forward]

Do you accept the responsibility for this life? That you will live fully and graciously in it's place?

[aneikonic]

[ Okay he's not being scolded good. He steps back to let Will step forward, moving to stand with Joshua as he listens quietly to the rites. He doesn't like it, it doesn't sit right with him. All he can see is the Iron Kingdom "Fathers", kneeling and bowing before the Mothercrystal with the bodies of two children on an alter. All he can hear is Jills pain and rage.

He almost doesn't hear Will's question and he manages to keep the grimace off his face by sheer will. He steps forward, his voice deep with gravitas. ]

Yes.

[kingincognito]

[ It's not the most comfortable feeling in the world, but if it works, it's worthwhile. And if it doesn't... well, they have materials to use. And Joshua, if not Clive, will make sure that they are used responsibility.

He moves to stand beside his brother, placing his hand on his chest. ]

Yes.

[goldenambition]

[He nods, standing and pressing his thumb against each of their brows, smearing the blood there, followed by his own. There's a spark of magic there- but it might be clear it's coming from Will himself, not any divine source. Trying to imbue his efforts so someone, something, will notice.]

There... and hate to say it, but no washing it off 'till dawn.

[Yes, it's gross. His nose wrinkles]

[aneikonic]

Great.

[ If he sounds exasperated, well. He has deer blood smeared on his forehead. And he has to wear it into dawn. He eyes the deer and sighs. ]

At least it's meat and leather. Hopefully decent meat, it's a carnivore.

[ And they tend to not taste the best. ]

[kingincognito]

Whatever needs to be done, I suppose.

[ It's going to take a little effort to remember it's there, and not to rub it off on accident, but he thinks he can manage. His eyes, too, move to the deer, and he frowns thoughtfully. ]

We could bring the meat back to the inn. I'm certain it could be made into some sort of stew that everyone could share.

[goldenambition]

Stew, eh? That does sound good.

[His tail wags as he wipes his fingers on his coat as best he can]

[aneikonic]

It's hardy and masks the taste of gamey meat.

[ He nods in agreeance to Joshua's idea, a stew sounds good, he's sure Yingyun can put the meat to good use in one. He then folds his arms and ponders the deer before them.

Slowly his brow v's down, deeper and deeper, but his lips quirk upwards into a lopsided smile as he stares and thinks. Then he glances up to Will and Joshua, then back down to the deer, then back up to the boys. ]

I don't suppose either of us [ Yes, he's including himself in this mistake ] thought to bring a sled along? I'm strong but even this might be too much for me.

[ Or the three of them, frankly. ]

[kingincognito]

[ Will, that... that's blood you're smearing on your coat, are you s-- okay. Not that Joshua can really talk. The amount of times he and Clive have come back blood-spattered probably exceeds counting on two hands, let alone one. ]

Particularly in this weather, the people could use something warming and heavy.

[ He's no cook, of course, so he doesn't know what goes into actually making it, but he's had game meat plenty of times before, and he's never wrinkled his nose at the taste hard enough that he doesn't want to eat it. Magic can be done with herbs and spices.

But he catches Clive's look, and follows his eyes down to the deer.

... ah. ]

... no, I don't think we did. Perhaps we could fetch one and return with it?

[goldenambition]

....ha... oops?

[His ears droop, eyes go big in plead for forgiveness]

In my defense, I didn't realize they were so big!

[aneikonic]

[ See, Will, you crossed a line now. Clive can't be held responsible for reaching out and dropping his hand on his head, ruffling his hair and patting his ears in reassurance.

He hit him with the sad eyes and now the resemblance to both Gav and Torgal is just too strong. ]

It's all right, we'll think of something.

[ He nods to Joshua, thoughtful. ]

Possibly, but the longer it's out here the more predators we attract. I'm not sure how long it will take to return and back....

[kingincognito]

[ Uh oh, Clive got hit by the puppy eyes. Joshua stifles a soft laugh behind his hand, then turns back to regard the deer. None of them expected it to be this big, he thinks. They couldn't have truly prepared for this.

He taps his lips with his fingers. ]

What if we were to skin it and then carry meat back in the hide? With a deer this size, we could feasibly leave some of the meat for the woodland creatures while having plenty for ourselves. Or maybe gutting it will lighten the load?

[goldenambition]

[He KNOWS he should be insulted, but he never minded such things as much as most beatkin. So his tail just wags]

Oh, I think Josh 'as got a good idea there- We prob'bly should gut it either way- organs leaking is bad for the meat.

[aneikonic]

[ Laughing at him, Joshua, will just make him transfer his hand from Will to his brother and unlike the gentle pet, he will deliberately rough that hair up until it's sticking everywhere. ]

Sounds good to me.... Mmmight not want to leave that to me.

[ He's liable to puncture the organs on accident and just ruin it. ]

[kingincognito]

[ The shortening of his name to "Josh" gets Joshua to look up, turning back to look at Will in a sort of confused surprise. This, of course, makes him more susceptible to the hair ruffle, which makes him hunch his shoulders a little. ]

Clive--!

[ As soon as he is free, he moves to fix his hair back down with his fingers. He isn't one to typically preen or fuss about his looks, but his hair sticking up will bother him if he leaves it sit for too long. ]

I'm afraid I have no skill in gutting an animal... Particularly one this big. But I have a delicate hand, if you'll show me where to cut.

[goldenambition]

If you're willin' to help old Will out I think the two of us can manage. Never cut up something this big, but all the innards are the same, innit?

[He pulls one of his blades from his hip and goes to start working on the beast. Groin to gullet.

It smells pretty bad, so let's not get into any heavy detail there]